Client Reporting for Backlink Campaigns
How to report placements, spend, and status without overclaiming outcomes.
Client reporting for backlink campaigns shows what was placed, where, and at what cost — without overclaiming ranking outcomes. This guide covers how to report marketplace campaigns to clients. See The Backlink Marketplace Buyer's Guide for the full process.
What to report
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Placements placed | Number of live, verified placements |
| Publisher URLs | Where each placement was published |
| Target pages | Which pages each placement links to |
| Disclosure status | Confirmation that each is disclosed and attributed |
| Expenses | Spend against budget, broken down by component |
| Verification status | Confirmation that each placement was verified |
What not to report
- Do not claim ranking improvements caused by the placements (non-causal).
- Do not promise traffic or revenue from the placements.
- Do not present third-party authority metrics as Google metrics.
- Do not report placements that were not verified.
Primary sources
- Link spam policies — Google Search Central (accessed 2025-01-15)